ong-ley



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. ONGLEY.

ELASTIC GHAIN LINK.

No. 427,605. Patented May 13, 1890.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. ONGLEY.

ELASTIG CHAIN LINK.

No; 427,605. Patented May 13, 1890.

minassesx ,;L-- iifiizneya UNITED STAT PATENT rrrcn.

EUGEN ONGLEY, OF MEMEL, PBUSSIA, GERMANY.

ELASTIC CHAIN-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 427,605, dated May 13, 1890..

Application filed April 12,1889. Renewed April 10, 1890. Serial No. 347,305. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EUGEN ONGLEY,of Mem el, in theKingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elastic Chain-Links; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de' scription of the same.

My invention consists in a novel or improved construction or arrangement of an elastic chain-link intended chiefly for use in anchor-cables, which may also be inserted into crane and winch chains, the object of said link being to nullify the detrimental effect of a sudden jerk on a tightly-bended chain, and to prevent the rupture of the chain under such sudden jerk. Chains possessing a great carrying-capacity under gradually-increasing loads are frequently ruptured with a jerking pull under a tension that is small in proportion to the load they can otherwise s'upport, so that they do not offer under such circumstances the safety corresponding to their ordinary strength. This occurs especially with anehor-cables, for when a ship lies at anchor and a powerful wave strikes the ship while the cables are tightly bended, the cables are only too frequently ruptured, and not only are the anchor and cables lost, but the ship drifting loose is exposed to the greatest danger. These dangers are obviated by my elastic chain-link, which is represented on the sheet of drawings appended hereto.

Figure 1 shows a side View, and Fig. 2 an end View, of the link, Figs. 3 and 4 showing details of the same.

The chain-link consists of two similar bows or shackles A and A, and the cylinder B, filled with elastic bodiesfor instance, with indiarubber washers, as shown. The two legs a a of the shackle A are connected by a ring b, the legs a a of the other shackle A being connected by a similar ring b. These rings b and b are bulged out or bent at c c c 0, respectively, in such a manner that the legs of shackle A can be passed through the bends c c of the ring I) of shackle A, and the legs of theshackle A through the bends c c of the ring Z) of shackle A, Fig. 2. The legs of the shackles A and A are thus crossed and at right angles to each other, and embrace the cylinder B, which is partly filled with strong india-rubber washers separated by plates or non-corrosive metal, as shown in section by Fig. 4. The cylinder B is open at both ends, and into its ends the covers 0 and c, with tubular eyelets f and f fit loosely, these covers, however, being still inside the cylinden edges. The eyelets f and f have an oval section, and corresponding oval openings are formed in the ends of the legs of shackles A and A so that strong bolts D and D pushed through these openings and the eyelets ff securely connect the different part-s of the chain-links. In order to allow for the movement of the parts corresponding to the elastic compression of the rings, the holes g in the cylinder through which the bolts D and D pass are made oblong.

The chaiirlink hereinbefore described is inserted into a cable by preference near to the anchor, so that one of the shackles-for instance, A-is placed toward the anchor, and the other A toward the ship. As the chain is tightened, the shackle A is pulled to the left and the shackle A to the right. The shackle A being connected by the bolt D to the cover 0, and the shackle A by the belt I) to the cover 0, these covers are drawn together as the shackles are pulled outward and v. the india-rubber rings 6 between the covers are compressed. WVhen a sudden jerk is exerted upon the cable, the rings are only further compressed and the evil effects of such jerks are obviated, so that the cable will not be ruptured in consequence of sudden jerks.

The elastic chain link hereinbefore de scribed can also be advantageously used in crane and winch chains in order to prevent the sudden shocks occurring through the slip of a chain-link off the teeth of a chain-pulley or that of a twisted link. When this occurs, and the load suddenly drops in consequence, the elastic link receives and softens the shock and saves the chain.

Instead of india-rubber Washers, obviously helical or volute springs, preferably coated with a non-corrosive metal, may be used.

Havin gnow particularly described and illus trated my said invention, and in what man- .ner it is to be perfor1ned,l declare that what I claim is 1. An elastic chain-link consisting of the combination of two shackles, each provided with a loop or eye whereby it is adapted to be connected with the contiguous links of a chain, and a spring interposed between said shackles, substantially as set forth.

2. An elastic chain-link consisting of the combination of two shackles, each provided with a loop or eye whereby it is adapted to be connected with the contiguous links of a chain, and provided also with transverse rings by which the shackles are mutually engaged, and a spring; interposed between said shackles, substantially as set forth.

3. An elastic chain-link consisting of the combination of two shackles, each provided with a loop or eye whereby it is adapted to be connected with the contiguous links of a chain, and a spring consisting of a series of rubber cushions having between them a series of plates and an inclosing-cylinder, all interposed between said shackles, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

EUGEN ONGLEY. lVitnesses:

NIooLAUs GiiLIoH, ROBERT SUTTKUS. 

